Electric fuse.



' w. n. HENSELL.

ELECTRIC FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. 1914.

1,173,962. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Cu., WASHINGTON, D C.

- time WILLIAM. DAVID HENSELL, OF WAVERLEY, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES,

AUSTRALIA. 4

. ELECTRIC ruse.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed June 17, 1914. Serial No. 845,691.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM DAVID HEN- SELL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Waverley, near Sydney, in the State of New South VVales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Electric Fuses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric fuses of the type'wherein a rotatable fuse holder is so associated with a stationary cam device that on a partial rotation of the holder a fresh length of fuse from a continuous length of fuse wire or material is automatically brought into position, and according to the present invention the fuse holder carries a number of clamps adapted to be acted upon successively by the cam device to clamp the fuse wire in position.

According to the invention a supply of fusible material usually in the form of copper wire is wound on a suitable reel integral with or secured in a position adjacent to the fuse box. This box consists of a casing. of insulating material such as porcelain and it issecured over the ends of the circuit wires to be coupled which project through the base of the box. WVithin the box is a spindle operated by an external handle, said spindle being secured to or integral with a grooved wheel or arms of suitable insulating material. The wheel is divided into sections toward its periphery and between each section is a spring contact which is capable of gripping the fuse wire and carrying it around on rotation of the handle. Instead of a wheel I prefer revoluble grooved arms, each being provided with a spring contact piece at its extremity. On the fuse wire being inserted between the contact piece and the groove in the wheel or in an arm and the spindle partially rotated the wire is gripped by the action of a cam on the base of the box engaging the contact piece. On further rotation another section of the wheel or an arm engages with the fuse wire and unwinds a further portion of the reel. As the ends of the circuit wires project. above the base of the box they keep the contact piece in each section of the wheel or arm in engagement with the fuse wire, thereby completing the circuit.

A slot or opening is made in the side of the casing to facilitate the insertion of the fuse the drawings herewith, in which Figure 1 is a perspective transparent view of a two pole fuse box embodying the preferred form'of my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, and, Fig. 4: a detail in section. Fig. 5 is a sectional'elevation of a three pole fuse box.

' The same numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

6 represents a suitable wall plate carrying the base 7 of the fuse box.

8 is a removable cover secured to the base by means'of screws 9 or the like.

10 and 11 are the circuit wires to be coupled preferably ending in spring contacts 12 held in the sleeves or sockets 13.

14 are screws passing through the sockets for retaining the circuit wires in position.

21 in which is secured the spring contact piece 22. p

23 is a reel or other supply of fuse wire 24: secured adjacent to the fuse box so that on insertion of the free end of the fuse wire in the groove 21 and partial rotation of the spindle the contact piece 22 is pressed against the wire, carrying it around, and similarly with the second arm on a further half revolution. The two contact pieces 22 being then over corresponding contacts 12 of the circuit wires they are coupled by the intervening length of fuse wire.

25 is an insulated casing for the reel and 26 a delivery opening for the fusible wire.

27 represents an opening in the cover 8 for passage of the wire while 28 is a slot for escape of ash and 29 vent holes.

In the event of a blow out. as the end of the fuse Wire is always held by one arm it is merely necessary to rotate the spindle to bring in a fresh section of wire between the contacts 12.

It is obvious that three or more arms may be employed as illustrated in the three pole fuse box in Fig. 5 in which the reference characters correspond with the previous figures, but in this case it is only requisite to rotate the spindle one third of a revolution in order to couple the circuit wires by means of a fresh section of fuse Wire.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric device comprising, a rotatable fuse holder carrying a fuse, a stationary cam device, and clamps carried by the fuse holder and adapted to be successively acted upon by the cam device for clamping said fuse on said holder, said cam device being so formed as to cooperate with said clamps for preventing the rotation of the fuse holder in one direction.

2. In an electric fuse holder, a base mem' ber formed with a cam surface, a fuse holder having a rotatable movement relative to said cam surface, said holder consisting of radial arms formed with grooves in their extremities adapted to receive fuse wire, and spring contact members secured to the extremities of said arms to cooperate with said cam surface, said contact members being adapted to clamp and retain the fuse wire upon said holder when the contacts are engaging with said cam surface of the base and adapted to successively release said wire when the holder is rotated, said spring contacts cooperating with one end of said cam surface for preventing the rotatable movement of the holder in one direction.

3. An electric fuse comprising a base member formed with a cam surface thereon, a rotatable fuse holder mounted on the base, spring clamps providing contact members carried by the holder and arranged to engage with said cam surface which moves the clamps into engagement with the fuse wire of the holder, circuit terminals 011 the cam surface adapted to engage with said spring clamps, and a continuous supply of wire for the fuse holder, said clamps being adapted to cooperate with said cam surface for retaining the fuse wire in the holder when the latter is rotated in one direction and to suecessively release said fuse wire, said spring clamps cooperating with one end of said cam surface for locking the holder against movement in a reverse direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVILLIAM DAVID HENSELL.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. EDI-1AM, HENRY W. CLARKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

